Sealing profile

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a sealing profile for securing to a motor vehicle component, more particularly to a frame of a door. The sealing profile comprises in accordance with the invention an insert provided with at least one elastically deformable detent for securing to the motor vehicle component. Furthermore, the insert is provided with at least one supporting plate for stiffening the sealing profile. The supporting plate is materially connected to the detent in one piece. The insert is provided more particularly in the region of the C-pillar of a motor vehicle. Prohibitive deformations of the sealing profile are prevented by the insert.

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing profile for securingto a motor vehicle component, more particularly to a frame of a door.

[0002] Extruded channel sections of light alloy, more particularly ofaluminum, are used in producing the frame on a series of motor vehicles.These channel sections are bent to adapt to the roof contour of thevehicle. Due to their material properties the channel sections cannot betotally adapted to the roof contour, resulting in a space being createdbetween the upper edge of the frame and the roof. This interspace needsto be covered by a sealing profile. The interspace occurs moreparticularly in the region of the C-pillar of a motor vehicle.

[0003] A variety of sealing profiles (weatherseals) is known forcovering the interspace. The disadvantage of these sealing profiles isthe complicated fastening arrangement involving additional elements, forexample, screws. Furthermore, the sealing profile is made of anelastomeric material and is thus flexible and deformable. When the dooris open, it often protrudes beyond the frame and is often used inclosing the door. Due to the low stiffness of the sealing profile thereis a risk of it being prohibitively deformed and thus damaged. Apartfrom this, the sealing profile may become detached from the frame.

[0004] The objective of the present invention is thus to provide asealing profile which can be simply secured to a motor vehiclecomponent, more particularly to a door frame, whilst featuring enhancedstiffness.

[0005] In accordance with the invention, this objective is achieved fora sealing profile of the aforementioned kind in that the sealing profilecomprises an insert provided with at least one elastically deformabledetent for securing to the motor vehicle component and with at least onesupporting plate for stiffening the sealing profile. The supportingplate is materially connected to the detent in one piece.

[0006] The insert including the at least one detent achieves reliablysafe fastening of the sealing profile to the motor vehicle componentwithout the use of additional fasteners. The supporting plate isconfigured as part of the insert and results in the stiffness of thesealing profile being enhanced. Forces engaging the sealing profile awayfrom the motor vehicle component are transmitted via the insert directlyto the motor vehicle component. Deformation of the sealing profile issubstantially reduced.

[0007] Advantageous aspects and further embodiments of the invention areset forth in the dependent claims.

[0008] Advantageously, the detent has a substantially triangularsection. Thus, the detent comprises a slanting surface area which, onfitting, contacts protuberance of the motor vehicle component whichelastically deforms the detent. After having clasped the protuberance,the detent relaxes to securely locate the sealing profile.

[0009] In one advantageous aspect the detent comprises a supporting partspaced away from the detent by an interspace. The supporting partprevents the detent from slipping out of the undercut. Due to theinterspace, the elastic deformation of the detent is not obstructed. Foreach detent a separate supporting part may be provided. As analternative, a full-length supporting part may be used. The supportingpart may be additionally likewise configured as a detent in clasping aprotuberance of the motor vehicle component in the fitted condition.

[0010] In accordance with another advantageous aspect, the detent and/orthe supporting part protrude from the sealing profile in thus avoidingdamage to the sealing profile on fitting. At the same time, a directcontact between the insert and the motor vehicle component is providedso that forces engaging the sealing profile are directly transmitted tothe motor vehicle component.

[0011] Advantageously, the supporting plate is arranged substantiallyparallel to a closure part to be sealed off by the sealing profile. Inthis case the supporting plate is located substantially in the plane ofthe closure part and the door so that the desired position of thesealing profile is reliably maintained.

[0012] In addition, the sealing profile may comprise an appendage orattachment for clasping a rib of the motor vehicle component. Thisappendage prevents the end of the sealing profile facing the closurepart from being lifted off to further improve the secure location of theprofile.

[0013] In another advantageous embodiment several detents are providedspaced away from each other. The individual detents can then be deformedby little effort so that the sealing profile can be fitted with littleforce. Advantageously, the detents are located on a curve conforming tothe bend of the motor vehicle component.

[0014] The insert is arranged to advantage in the region of the C-pillarof a motor vehicle. In this region the sealing profile protrudescomparatively far beyond the motor vehicle component.

[0015] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle component, moreparticularly a frame of a door of a motor vehicle, to which a sealingprofile as described above is secured. The motor vehicle component inaccordance with the invention is provided with a number of protuberancesand recesses, the protuberances forming undercuts for securing thedetents of the sealing profile. Provided between the detents arerecesses for receiving the insert in thus achieving a low profile andaccordingly a streamlined outer contour.

[0016] Advantageously, the motor vehicle component is provided with aprotuberance for providing a contact surface area for a supporting partof the sealing profile. This contact surface area results in the insertbeing supported to further improve locating the sealing profile andtransmitting the force into the motor vehicle component. In thisarrangement, the contact surface area may be configured flat or form anundercut for locating a supporting part configured as a detent.

[0017] The invention will now be detailed by way of a preferred exampleembodiment as shown diagrammatically in the drawing in which

[0018]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a motor vehicle;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a magnified detail X as shown in FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line V-V in FIG. 2 after thesealing profile has been fitted;

[0023]FIG. 6 is plan view of the insert; and

[0024]FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6.

[0025] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated diagrammatically aside view of a motor vehicle 10 including a front door 11 and a reardoor 12. Both doors 11, 12 are provided with a sealing profile 13 in theregion of a frame 17 (see FIG. 2) and a channel seal 14 for guiding andsealing a powered window pane 15.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a magnified detailX as shown in FIG. 1 in the region of the C-pillar 16 of the motorvehicle 10. Illustrated diagrammatically is a section of the frame 17 ofdoor 12. The outer contour of the sealing profile 13 is indicated by thebroken line 18. In the region of the C-pillar 16 as shown, the sealingprofile 13 clearly protrudes beyond the frame 17. The reason for this isthat the frame 17 cannot be adapted to the roof contour to its fullextent.

[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 5, there is illustrated a sectiontaken along the line III-III, IV-IV and V-V respectively as shown inFIG. 2 in detailing the configuration of the frame 17 and the sealingprofile 13.

[0028] For guiding and sealing the window pane 15, the sealing profile13 is provided with a plurality of lips 26 provided partly with afriction-reducing flock 27. A lip 24 serves to seal the sealing profilefrom the roof. The end of the sealing profile 13 facing the windowpane15 is provided with an attachment 28 clasping a protuberance 29 of theframe 17. It is this connection that reliably locates the sealingprofile 13 in preventing it from being lifting off undesirably.

[0029] The sealing profile 13 also comprises an insert 30 provided withseveral detents 31 for securing to the frame 17. As shown in FIG. 4, theframe 17 is provided with protuberances 19 forming undercuts 21 for thedetents 31. Between the protuberances 19 the frame 17 is provided withrecesses 20 (see FIG. 2) to reduce the overall height.

[0030] To locate the sealing profile 13, the insert 30 is furthermoreprovided with supporting parts 32. These supporting parts 32 are spacedaway from the detents 31 via an interspace 34 so as not to obstructdeformation of the detents 31 on fitting the sealing profile 13. Tosupport the supporting parts 32, the frame 17 is provided with a furtherprotuberance 23 forming a flat contact surface area 22 for thesupporting parts 32.

[0031] The detents 31 have a substantially triangular cross-section andcomprise a slanting contact surface area for contacting theprotuberances 19, resulting in the detents 31 being elastically deformedin the direction of the supporting parts 32 on being fitted and latchingin place in the undercuts 21 after having negotiated the protuberances19. The supporting parts 32 slide along the contact surface area 22 inpreventing the detents 31 from emerging from the undercuts 21. As shownin FIG. 5 the supporting parts 32 result in securement in the horizontaldirection and the detents 31 in securement in the vertical direction.Both the detents 31 and the supporting parts 32 protrude from thesealing profile 13 in directly contacting the frame 17.

[0032] The insert 30 also comprises a supporting plate 33 which isconnected to the detents 31 and supporting parts 32 substantially in onepiece. Starting from the frame 17, the supporting plate 33 extendssubstantially parallel to the windowpane 15 in the sealing profile 13for stiffening it. In addition, a further reinforcement insert 25 may beprovided for locating the sealing profile 13 on a flange (not shown) ofthe frame 17. Forces acting on the sealing profile 13 are absorbed bythe supporting plate 33 and transmitted via the detents 31 andsupporting parts 32 to the sealing profile 13 in thus significantlyreducing deformation of the sealing profile 13.

[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated the insert30 in a plan view and in a magnified detail cross-section. Thesupporting plate 33 is substantially V-shaped and adapted to theinterspace between the frame 17 and the roof. It is provided with a holeor recess 35 to reduce the weight and to improve locating in the sealingprofile 13. The detents 31 are arranged substantially on a circleadapted to the contour of the frame 17, the supporting parts 32 toobeing likewise correspondingly arranged. For a better explanation, thereis illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 7 the lower edge of the sealingprofile 13 as a broken line 36. The detents 31 and the supporting parts32 protrude from the sealing profile 13.

[0034] Due to the insert 30 including the detents 31 and supportingparts 32 the sealing profile 13 in accordance with the invention isquickly and easily fitted to the frame 17 without requiring additionalfasteners. The supporting plate 33 of the insert 30 results in thesealing profile 13 being stiffened in thus reliably preventingprohibitive deformation and damage.

1. A sealing profile for securing to a motor vehicle component, moreparticularly to a frame of a door, comprising an insert having at leastone elastically deformable detent for securing to said motor vehiclecomponent and at least one supporting plate materially connected to saiddetent in one piece for stiffening said sealing profile.
 2. The sealingprofile as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detent has a substantiallytriangular cross-section.
 3. The sealing profile as set forth in claim1, wherein said detent comprises a supporting part spaced away from saiddetent by an interspace.
 4. The sealing profile as set forth in claim 3,wherein said detent and said supporting part protrude from said sealingprofile.
 5. The sealing profile as set forth in claim 3, wherein saiddetent or said supporting part protrude from said sealing profile. 6.The sealing profile as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supportingplate is arranged substantially parallel to a closure part to be sealedoff by said sealing profile.
 7. The sealing profile as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said sealing profile comprises an attachment forclasping a rib of said motor vehicle component.
 8. The sealing profileas set forth in claim 1, comprising several detents spaced away fromeach other.
 9. The sealing profile as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidinsert is arranged in the region of the C-pillar of a motor vehicle. 10.A frame of a door of a motor vehicle, comprising a number ofprotuberances and recesses, said protuberances forming undercuts forsecuring said detents of a sealing profile.
 11. The motor vehiclecomponent as set forth in claim 10, wherein said frame is provided witha protuberance for furnishing a contact surface area for a supportingpart of a sealing profile.